Mutant Glucose Oxidase and Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

By using a mutant glucose oxidase comprising an amino acid sequence in which a residue corresponding to isoleucine at position 489 or arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in a side chain, and binding an electron acceptor to the mutant glucose oxidase through the amino acid residue having a reactive functional group, an electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase is obtained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for giving a new function to glucose oxidase by introduction of a site-directed mutation, and a glucose oxidase having a mutation introduced therein.

Description of the Related Art

Biosensors using glucose oxidase (GOX) has been developed for a long time. First, the so-called first generation type, which is described in Non-patent Document 1, has been developed. In this method, the product of the side reaction O₂→H₂O₂, which occurs due to the oxidation reaction of glucose in the system, is oxidized with a platinum electrode or the like to allow measurement of the glucose concentration. This was followed by development of the second generation type, wherein electron transfer between GOX and an electrode is mediated by an electron acceptor (mediator) added to the system, without being dependent on the instable O₂ or H₂O₂ (Non-patent Document 2). Non-patent Document 3 showed that detection of electrons from the glucose oxidation reaction is possible even without addition of an electron acceptor when a carbon nanoparticle such as graphene is used in combination.

In Non-patent Document 4 and Patent Document 1, the present inventors disclosed the 2.5th generation type, wherein direct monitoring of electron transfer is possible by chemical modification of the molecular surface of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) or the like with an electron acceptor.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Document

[Patent Document 1] WO 2018/062542

Non-Patent Documents

-   [Non-patent Document 1] Clin Chem 1978, 24 (1) 150-152 -   [Non-patent Document 2] Biosensors 1989, 4 (2) 109-119 -   [Non-patent Document 3] Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Apple 2017 Jul.     1; 76, 398-405 -   [Non-patent Document 4] Bioelectrochemistry 2018 June, 121: 185-190

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Since glucose oxidase has better thermal stability and substrate specificity compared to GDH, it may be useful for preparation of a stable, highly accurate biosensor if the glucose oxidase molecule itself can be modified to allow easier electron transfer with an electrode even without addition of a free electron acceptor to the reaction system.

However, application of glucose oxidase to a glucose sensor is not easy. This is because of the following problems. First-generation sensors require application of a high voltage. Second-generation sensors, which are systems based on detection of an electron acceptor, are affected by interference of the dissolved oxygen level in the sample. Third-generation sensors of the direct electron transfer type need to be designed such that easy access of the electrode to the active site of the enzyme is secured, so that preparation of the electrode is very complicated, leading to difficulty in control.

Although Non-patent Document 4 and Patent Document 1 disclose chemical modification of GDH with an electron acceptor, application of this technique to glucose oxidase has not been easy.

In order to prepare glucose oxidase as an enzyme capable of direct electron transfer, the present inventors studied chemical modification with an electron acceptor. During the course of this study, random modification of side-chain amino groups present in the amino acid sequence of glucose oxidase with an electron acceptor resulted in the absence of direct electron transfer. In view of this, a detailed study was carried out to identify the amino acid to be modified with the electron acceptor based on the spatial structure of glucose oxidase, structural similarity of glucose oxidase to GDH, and the like, and mutations were introduced to glucose oxidase.

As a result, an amino acid residue (amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1) close to the FAD-binding site, which is the active center of glucose oxidase, was substituted with a lysine residue for modification with an electron acceptor, to obtain a mutant glucose oxidase. Thereafter, the amino group in the side chain of the lysine residue introduced in the resulting mutant glucose oxidase was covalently bound to an electron acceptor by chemical modification. The modified glucose oxidase mutant obtained was found to have a specific electron transfer ability that cannot be achieved with wild-type glucose oxidase, and it was found that sensors with an enzyme electrode using this enzyme show responses to glucose even without addition of a free electron acceptor from outside. Based on such discoveries, the present invention was completed.

The present invention can be summarized as follows.

-   [1] A mutant glucose oxidase comprising an amino acid sequence in     which a residue corresponding to isoleucine at position 489 or     arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1     is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive     functional group in a side chain. -   [2] The mutant glucose oxidase according to [1], wherein the amino     acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain is     a lysine residue. -   [3] The mutant glucose oxidase according to [1] to [2], wherein said     mutant glucose oxidase has an amino acid sequence with a sequence     identity of not less than 90% to the amino acid sequence of any one     of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 8. -   [4] The mutant glucose oxidase according to any one of [1] to [3],     wherein said mutant glucose oxidase originates from Aspergillus     niger. -   [5] An (artificial) electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase     obtained or obtainable by introducing an electron acceptor to the     mutant glucose oxidase according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein     the electron acceptor has been introduced to the glucose oxidase     through the amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in     the side chain. -   [6] The electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase according to [5],     wherein the electron acceptor is a phenazinium compound. -   [7] The electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase according to [6],     wherein the phenazinium compound is represented by the following     formula:

wherein R₁ represents a hydrocarbyl group, and R₂ represents a linker.

-   [8] An enzyme electrode comprising an electrode base material and     the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase according to any one     of [5] to [7] bound to the base material. -   [9] A biosensor comprising the enzyme electrode according to [8]. -   [10] A method of preparing an electron acceptor-modified glucose     oxidase comprising introducing an electron acceptor to a mutant     glucose oxidase as defined in any one of [1] to [4], wherein the     electron acceptor is introduced to the glucose oxidase through the     amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side     chain. -   [11] The method according to [10] wherein the electron acceptor is     as defined in [6] or [7].

Conventionally, while glucose oxidase had an advantage over GDH in terms of its thermal stability and substrate specificity as an element for glucose measurement, detection of a signal by the electrode required addition of an electron acceptor as an electron acceptor from outside. It was found, however, that use of the mutant enzyme according to the present invention enables construction of a sensor having a minimal configuration composed only of an enzyme and electrodes, without addition of the electron acceptor from outside. By using the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase obtained by the present invention, a stable biosensor having a high substrate specificity can be simply prepared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a graph showing results of amperometric measurement using a sensor including a PES-modified enzyme obtained by modifying wild-type GOX with PES.

FIG. 2 shows a graph showing results of amperometric measurement using a sensor including a PES-modified enzyme obtained by modifying I489K mutant-type GOX with PES.

FIG. 3 shows a graph showing the relationship between the glucose concentration and the current value for wild-type and mutant GOX enzymes and PES-modified versions of those enzymes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Mutant Glucose Oxidase>

In the mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention, the amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain.

Since these amino acid residues are positioned close to the binding site of a coenzyme FAD and the substrate pocket in the spatial structure of glucose oxidase, modification with the later-mentioned electron acceptor through these amino acid residues allows the glucose oxidase to function as a direct electron transfer-type oxidoreductase.

Examples of the amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain include lysine, which has an amino group in the side chain, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, each of which has a carboxyl group in the side chain, and cysteine, which has a thiol group in the side chain.

The mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention may originate from Aspergillus niger and thus may be obtained by modifying a sequence of glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger. SEQ ID NO:1 is the amino acid sequence of glucose oxidase derived from the Aspergillus niger NRRL3 strain (mature type), and examples of the mutant glucose oxidase include a mutant glucose oxidase having the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1 except that the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain, such as lysine.

However, in the mutant glucose oxidase, as long as the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain, such as lysine, and as long as the mutant glucose oxidase has glucose oxidase activity, the amino acids other than those at positions 489 and 335 in SEQ ID NO:1 do not need to be the same as in SEQ ID NO:1, and may have one or several amino acid substitution(s), deletion(s), insertion(s), addition(s), and/or the like. The term “one or several” herein means 1 to 50, 1 to 20, 1 to 10, or 1 to 5 (the same applies hereinafter).

In the mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention, as long as the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain, such as lysine, and as long as the mutant glucose oxidase has glucose oxidase activity, the mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention may also be a protein having a sequence identity of not less than 90%, not less than 95%, or not less than 98% to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. The amino acid sequence identity herein can be defined by aligning two amino acids such that the number of matched amino acids is maximum while inserting a gap(s) when necessary, and calculating the ratio of the number of matched amino acids to the total number of amino acids in the aligned portion (the same applies hereinafter).

The mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention may also be a mutant glucose oxidase having the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence of a glucose oxidase derived from another organism except that the amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain.

The other amino acid sequence is not limited as long as it is an amino acid sequence of a glucose oxidase protein having an amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 (I489) or the arginine at position 335 (R335) in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. Examples of such an amino acid sequence include the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:2 to 8 described in the following Table 1. In Table 1, the amino acid residues corresponding to 1489 and R335 are shown for each amino acid sequence.

Accordingly, other examples of the mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention include proteins each having the same amino acid sequence as any one of SEQ ID NOs:2 to 8 except that the amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain.

In the mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention, as long as the amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is substituted with a lysine residue, and as long as the mutant glucose oxidase has glucose oxidase activity, the mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention may also be a protein having the same amino acid sequence as any one of SEQ ID NOs:2 to 8 except that the amino acid sequence has one or several amino acid substitution(s), deletion(s), insertion(s), addition(s) (as described hereinbefore), and/or the like, or a protein having a sequence identity of not less than 90%, not less than 95%, or not less than 98% to the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:2 to 8.

TABLE 1 SEQ Accession No. R335 I489 ID NO: Microorganism 1CF3 R335 I489 1 Aspergillus niger OQD69692.1 R357 V511 2 Penicillium polonicum OQD69251.1 A363 T517 3 Penicillium polonicum XP_002375824.1 R358 I512 4 Aspergillus flavus 1GPE S339 L493 5 Penicillium amagasakiense XP_015407838.1 R358 I512 6 Aspergillus nomius KGQ09389.1 R355 I509 7 Beauveria bassiana XP_002563451.1 R357 I510 8 Penicillium rubens

The “amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1” can be identified by alignment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 with the subject amino acid sequence.

Examples of the alignment are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

The arrows in these tables indicate the “amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1” and the “amino acid residue corresponding to the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1”, respectively.

In these tables, P13006.1 shows a sequence of the 1CF3 precursor, and AAD01493.1 shows a sequence of the 1GPE precursor.

The amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is the amino acid corresponding to X₂ in the following amino acid sequence motif, and can therefore also be identified based on the presence of this motif in the subject amino acid sequence.

(SEQ ID NO: 10) Glu-X₁-X₂-Pro-Gly

More specifically, this amino acid residue is V511 in SEQ ID NO:2, T517 in SEQ ID NO:3, I512 in SEQ ID NO:4, L493 in SEQ ID NO:5, I512 in SEQ ID NO:6, I509 in SEQ ID NO:7, and I510 in SEQ ID NO:8.

TABLE 2                                  

1CF3 : ELDLLGQAAATQLARNISNSGAMCTYFAGETIPGDNLA-YDADLSAWTEYIPYHFRPNYHGVGTCSMMPKEMGGVVD 556 NAARVYGVQGLRVIDGSIPPTQM : P13006.1 : ELDLLGQAAATQLARNISNSGAMQTYFAGETIPGDNLA-YDADLSAWTEYIPYHFRPNYHGVGTCSMMPKEMGGVVD 578 NAARVYGVQGLRVIDGSIPPTQM : CQD69692.1 : ELDLLGQAAASKLAREISNKGEMTKYFNSETVPGNNLA-YDATLDQWVDYVKQNFRPNYHGVGTCSMMSKELGGVVD 578 AAARVYDVEGLRVIDGSIPPTQV : CQD69251.1 : DLDLLGQAAGSKLAREISNSGDMQTYFDGETTPGDNLE-YDADLDQWVDYVKQNFRANWHAVGTCSMMAKELGGVVD 584 SEARVYGVEGLRVVDGSIPPTQV : XP_002375824.1 : EFDILGQAAATKLARELSNTGEMKKYFAGEIIPGDNLA-YDASLEQWADYVKENFRANWHAVSSCSMMSREMGGVVD 579 SAARVYDVENLRIVDGSIPPTQV : 1GPE : EFDLLGQAAASKLARDLTSQGAMKEYFAGETLPGYNLV-QNATLSQWSDYVLQNFRPNWHAVSSCSMMSRELGGVVD 560 ATAKVYGTQGLRVIDGSIPPTQV : AAD01493.1 : EFDLLGQAAASKLARDLTSQGAMKEYFAGETLPGYNLV-QNATLSQWSDYVLQNFRPNWHAVSSCSMMSRELGGVVD 578 ATAKVYGTQGLRVIDGSIPPTQV : XP_015407838.1 : ELDLLGQAAASMLARKLQNSGEMSNYFDGEDIPGADLLSYNATLDDWVGYVKQNFRANWHAVSTCSMMSKELGGVVD 580 PTAKVYGTLGLRVIDGSVSPTQV : KGQ09389.1 : ELDLLGQAAATRLARKLQNSGAMASYFDGEVIPGAEVP-EDATLGQWAEYVKDNFRANWHAVGTSCMMSRELGGVVD 576 AAAKVYDTQGLRVIDGSIPPTQV : XP_002563451.1 : ELDLLGQAAATKLGRELSSAGEMKKYYAGETIPGDNLP-QDATVEQWEDYVMMNFRPNWHAVSTCSMMSRELGGVVD 577 ATAKVYGTQGLRVIDGSIPPTQV :

The amino acid residue corresponding to the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is the amino acid corresponding to X in the following amino acid sequence motif, and can therefore also be identified based on the presence of this motif in the subject amino acid sequence.

(SEQ ID NO: 11) TT(A/T)TVXS(R/A)(I/A)(T/S)

More specifically, this amino acid residue is R357 in SEQ ID NO:2, A363 in SEQ ID NO:3, R358 in SEQ ID NO:4, S339 in SEQ ID NO:5, R358 in SEQ ID NO:6, R355 in SEQ ID NO:7, and R357 in SEQ ID NO:8.

TABLE 3                                                                         

   1CF3 : VEFG-THKGNTHNVYAKHEVLLAAGSAVSPTILEYSGIGMKSILEPLGIDTVVDLP-VGLNLQDQTTATVRSRITSA 362 GAGQGQAAQFAT--FNETFGDYS : P13006.1 : VEFG-THKGNTHNVYAKHEVLLAAGSAVSPTILEYSGIGMKSILEPLGIDTVVDLP-VGLNLQDQTTATVRSRITSA 384 GAGQGQAAWFAT--FNETFGDYS : CQD69692.1 : VNFG-THNKVNFDVHAKHEVLLAAGSTVSPQILEHSGVGLKTVLDKVGVKQLVELP-VGLNLQDQTTTTVRSAINPI 384 GAGQGQAAYFAT--FNETFGDQA : CQD69251.1 : VNFG-TNKNVNFNVYAKHEVLLASGSVVSPRILEYSGIGLKSVLDTAGIQQIVDLP-VGLNMQDQTTTTVASRIKSS 390 GNGQGQAIYFAT--FNETFGDYA : XP_002375824.1 : LNFG-THRKVNYNVYAKHEVLLAAGSAISPLILEWSGIGLKDVLSAAGVEQVVDLP-VGLNMQDQTTTNVRSQAQAS 385 GAGQGQAVYFAS--FNETFGDYA : 1GPE : VNFG-TNKAVNFDVFAKHEVLLAAGSAISPLILEYSGIGLKSVLDQANVTQLLDLP-VGINMQDQTTTTVSSRASSA 366 GAGQGQAVFFAN--FTETFGDYA : AAD01493.1 : VNFG-TNKAVNFDVFAKHEVLLAAGSAISPLILEYSGIGLKSVLDQANVTQLLDLP-VGINMQDQTTTTVSSRASSA 384 GAGQGQAVFFAN--FTETFGDYA : XP_015407838.1 : VNFG-TNKAVNFNVYAKYEVLLAAGSLVSPLILEHSGIGIKSVLDQFNITQLIELP-VGLNMQDQTTTTVRARAKSV 385 AAGQGQAVYFAN--FTEVFGDYT : KGQ09389.1 : VNFG-TNKAVNFNAYTKHEVLLAAGSSISPLILEYSGIGLKSVLDKANVTQLVELP-VGINMQDQTTTTVRARSTSA 382 GAGQGQAIYFAN--FTETFGEDI : XP_002563451.1 : VNFG-TNKAVNFNVYAKQEVLLAAGSAISPLILEYSGIGIKSVLDKAGVKQLLELP-VGLNMQDQTTTTVRSRANNA 383 -PGQGQAAYFAN--FTEVLGDHA :

In the mutant glucose oxidase of the present invention, glucose oxidase activity is maintained.

The “glucose oxidase activity” herein means an enzymatic activity that catalyzes oxidation of glucose using oxygen as an electron acceptor, to produce gluconolactone. The glucose oxidase activity can be measured by, for example, using glucose as a substrate, and an electron acceptor such as (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) or 1-methoxy phenazine methosulfate (PMS) instead of oxygen, as described below in the Examples. For example, the glucose oxidase activity of the mutant glucose oxidase is not less than 10%, not less than 20%, or not less than 50% as compared to the activity of a wild type glucose oxidase.

The mutant glucose oxidase can be prepared by a known genetic recombination method such as site-directed mutagenesis. More specifically, by obtaining a DNA encoding glucose oxidase, introducing a site-specific mutation thereto using, for example, a primer for introduction of the mutation, allowing expression from the resulting DNA in an appropriate host to produce a mutant glucose oxidase, and then purifying the mutant glucose oxidase as required, the mutant glucose oxidase can be obtained.

The DNA encoding the glucose oxidase can be obtained from a desired gene source such as Aspergillus niger by a method such as PCR. Primers for the PCR can be prepared by chemical synthesis based on a known base sequence. Alternatively, the DNA can be obtained by hybridization using, as a probe, an oligonucleotide prepared based on a known base sequence.

The gene encoding the mutant glucose oxidase (mutant GOX gene) is not limited as long as it has a base sequence corresponding to the amino acid sequence of the mutant glucose oxidase described above. Specific examples of the gene include a DNA containing the same base sequence as the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 except that it has a codon substitution corresponding to the above amino acid substitution. The mutant GOX gene may be a DNA having the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, or a DNA which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, with a probe that can be prepared from this sequence, and which encodes a protein having glucose oxidase activity.

Examples of the stringent conditions described above include conditions that allow hybridization of DNAs having an identity of preferably 80%, more preferably not less than 90%, especially preferably not less than 95%, with each other. More specifically, for example, such conditions are achieved by washing with 0.1×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 60° C.

By incorporating the resulting DNA into a vector that can function in a host cell, transforming the host cell with this vector, and then allowing expression from the DNA, a mutant glucose oxidase can be produced.

The vector(s) to be used for the acquisition of the glucose oxidase gene, the introduction of the mutation, the expression of the gene, and the like may be appropriately selected depending on the host, and specific examples of such vectors include those which can function in bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as pTrc99A, pBR322, pUC18, pUC118, pUC19, pUC119, pACYC184, pBBR122, and pET. The promoter to be used for the expression of the gene may also be appropriately selected depending on the host, and examples of the promoter include those which can function in bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia, such as lac, trp, tac, trc, PL, and tet.

Examples of the method for the transformation of the host cell with the recombinant vector include the competent cell method by calcium treatment, the lipofection method, the protoplast method, and the electroporation method.

Examples of the host cell include intestinal bacteria such as bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia; bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus, such as Bacillus subtilis; yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae; filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus niger; mammalian cells; and insect cells. The host cell is not limited to these, and any host cell may be used as long as it is suitable for production of a foreign protein.

By culturing the host cell under appropriate conditions, the mutant glucose oxidase can be produced as a recombinant protein. Purification of the mutant glucose oxidase can be carried out by a known method such as column chromatography. In cases where the mutant glucose oxidase contains a tag sequence for purification, the purification is also possible by, for example, affinity chromatography for the tag.

<Modification with Electron Acceptor>

The electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase of the present invention comprises an electron acceptor which is bound to the above-mentioned mutant glucose oxidase through the amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain.

The electron acceptor herein is not limited as long as it is a compound having no catalytic action and receives an electron from an oxidoreductase to undergo reduction, followed by reoxidation in the electrode. Examples of the electron acceptor include phenazinium compounds, ferrocene, quinone compounds (for example, 1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-methyl-1,4-naphtoquinone, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 1,2-naphthoquinone, p-xyloquinone, methylbenzoquinone, 2,6-dimethylbenzoquinone, sodium 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate, 1,4-anthraquinone, 9,10-anthraquinone, tetramethylbenzoquinone, and thymoquinone); phenylenediamine compounds (for example, N,N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride), coenzyme Q0, AZURE A chloride, phenosafranin, 6-aminoquinoxaline, toluidine blue, and tetrathiafulvalene.

Examples of the phenazinium compounds (to be introduced/bound to the mutant GOX) include the compounds represented by the following formula, such as 5-methylphenazinium and 5-ethylphenazinium.

R₁ represents a hydrocarbyl group, and may be a saturated hydrocarbyl group, unsaturated hydrocarbyl group, or aromatic hydrocarbyl group. The number of carbons in the hydrocarbyl group is, for example, 1 to 10. By way of example the hydrocarbyl group may be an alkyl group, e.g. with 1 to 6 carbons.

R₂ represents a linker that links the phenazinium skeleton to the side chain of the glucose oxidase, and examples of R₂ include an alkylene group or an alkenylene group that may have a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, or nitrogen atom in the main chain or a side chain. The number of atoms in the main chain of the linker is, for example, 1 to 20, or 1 to 10. The linker includes at its end the residue for binding to the side chain of the glucose oxidase.

The invention also provides a method of preparing an electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase comprising introducing an electron acceptor to the mutant glucose oxidase as defined hereinbefore, wherein the electron acceptor is introduced to the glucose oxidase through the amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain. As referred to herein the introduction results in the electron acceptor binding to the mutant glucose oxidase thereby modifying the enzyme. Examples of the method for the modification of the glucose oxidase with the electron acceptor include a method in which a functional group such as succinimide is introduced to the above-described electron acceptor, and the functional group is then allowed to react with the side-chain amino group of a lysine residue introduced in the mutant glucose oxidase, to achieve the modification.

Examples of the method also include a method in which a functional group such as maleimide is introduced to the above-described electron acceptor, and the functional group is then allowed to react with the side-chain thiol group of a cysteine residue introduced in the mutant glucose oxidase, to achieve the modification.

Examples of the method also include a method in which a functional group such as oxazoline is introduced to the above-described electron acceptor, and the functional group is then allowed to react with the side-chain carboxyl group of a glutamic acid or aspartic acid residue introduced in the mutant glucose oxidase, to achieve the modification.

A cross-linking agent may be used in addition.

In cases where the modification is carried out with phenazine ethosulfate (PES), examples of the method include a method in which a compound prepared by introducing an NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide) group to PES as described below is allowed to react with the side-chain amino group of a lysine residue introduced in the mutant glucose oxidase. In a preferred method the modification is carried out using a ratio of enzyme to electron acceptor of 1:500 to 1:10,000.

1-[3-(Succininidyloxycarbonyl)propoxy]-5-ethylphenazinium

In cases where a wild-type glucose oxidase intrinsically has an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain as the amino acid residue corresponding to the isoleucine at position 489 or the arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, the wild-type glucose oxidase can be modified with the electron acceptor even without the introduction of a mutation.

<Biosensor>

By binding the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase to an electrode base material, an enzyme electrode of the direct electron transfer type can be obtained, and such an enzyme electrode can be used as a constituent of a biosensor such as a glucose sensor. Examples of an electrode base material include metal electrodes, carbon electrodes, which may be prepared by providing a metal layer or a carbon layer on the surface of an insulating substrate.

The enzyme electrode of the direct electron transfer type herein means an electrode capable of transferring an electron generated by an enzymatic reaction to the electrode without using a free electron acceptor.

The enzyme electrode to which the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase is bound can be prepared by a known method. For example, the enzyme electrode can be prepared as follows.

First, a metal layer which functions as an electrode is formed on one side of an insulating substrate. For example, a metal layer having a desired thickness (for example, about 30 nm) is formed by depositing a metallic material, by physical vapor deposition (PVD, for example, sputtering) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD), on one side of an insulating substrate in the form of a film having a predetermined thickness (for example, about 100 μm). Instead of the metal layer, an electrode layer made of a carbon material may be formed.

By applying a solution of the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase to the surface of the thus obtained electrode layer, and then drying the solution, the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase can be bound to the electrode surface.

Alternatively, the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase of the present invention may be immobilized on the electrode surface.

The method for the immobilization of the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase on the electrode surface is not limited, and examples of the method include a method using a conductive polymer or a cross-linking agent, and a method using a monolayer-forming molecule.

For example, in cases where a monolayer-forming molecule is used, the monolayer-forming molecule is first bound onto the electrode as disclosed in JP 2017-211383 A. Thereafter, by reacting a reactive functional group of the monolayer-forming molecule with an amino group, carboxyl group, or the like of the glucose oxidase, the glucose oxidase can be immobilized on the electrode through the monolayer-forming molecule.

In cases where the enzyme is immobilized on the electrode using a conductive polymer or a cross-linking agent, the enzyme electrode can be prepared by adding the glucose oxidase and the reagent such as a conductive polymer or a cross-linking reagent onto the electrode as described in, for example, WO 2014/002999 or JP 2016-121989 A.

Examples of the glucose sensor include a glucose sensor which uses, as a working electrode, the above-described enzyme electrode in which the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase is bound to the electrode surface. The sensor means a measurement system for electrochemically measuring the concentration of a test substance of interest, and usually contains the following three electrodes: a working electrode (enzyme electrode), a counter electrode (platinum or the like), and a reference electrode (Ag/AgCl or the like). Alternatively, the sensor may be a two-electrode system constituted by a working electrode and a counter electrode, such as the ones used in conventional, simple blood glucose level systems. The sensor preferably further contains a constant-temperature cell in which a buffer and a test sample are to be placed; a power source for applying a voltage to the working electrode; an ammeter; a recorder; and/or the like. The sensor may be either a batch-type sensor or a flow-type sensor. The flow-type sensor may be a sensor capable of continuous measurement of the blood glucose level. More specifically, the sensor may be one having a two-electrode system or a three-electrode system in which the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase is immobilized, which electrode system is inserted into a blood sample or a dialysis sample that is continuously supplied, or into blood or interstitial fluid, to perform the measurement. The structure of such an enzyme sensor is well known in the art, and described in, for example, Biosensors-Fundamental and Applications-Anthony P. F. Turner, Isao Karube, and Geroge S. Wilson, Oxford University Press 1987.

The measurement of the glucose level can be carried out as follows. A buffer is placed in the constant-temperature cell of the sensor, and the temperature of is kept constant. As a working electrode, an enzyme electrode to which the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase is bound is used. As a counter electrode, for example, a platinum electrode is used. As a reference electrode, for example, an Ag/AgCl electrode is used. A constant voltage is applied to the working electrode. After the electric current becomes constant, a sample containing glucose is placed in the constant-temperature cell, and an increase in the electric current is measured. According to a calibration curve prepared using glucose solutions having standard concentrations, the glucose concentration in the sample can be calculated.

The electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase can also be used as a constituent of a glucose assay kit. The glucose assay kit may contain, in addition to the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase, a coloring or luminescence reagent, a dilution buffer, a standard substance, manufacturer's instructions, and/or the like.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is described below more concretely by way of Examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the Examples.

[Introduction of Mutation]

An artificially synthesized wild-type Aspergillus niger 1CF3 structural gene was inserted into the pET30c vector to construct pET30c 1CF3 WT, which is a wild-type 1CF3 expression vector. Using this vector as a template, site-directed mutagenesis was carried out such that the isoleucine at position 489 was substituted with lysine. More specifically, using a commercially available site-directed mutagenesis kit (QuikChange II Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit, Stratagene), codon modification of the 1CF3 structural gene contained in the pET30c 1CF3 WT was carried out such that the isoleucine at position 489 was substituted with lysine.

E. coli BL21 (DE3) was transformed with the thus constructed pET30c 1CF3 I489K or pET30c 1CF3 WT, to obtain a mutant 1CF3- or wild-type 1CF3-expressing E. coli.

[Method for Preparing Mutant Enzyme]

-   1. E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pET30c 1CF3 WT, I489K was precultured in 3 mL     of LB medium (with kanamycin at a final concentration of 50 μg/mL)     at 37° C. for 12 hours under aerobic conditions. After inoculation     of the precultured cells to 100 mL of the same medium, IPTG     induction (final concentration, 0.5 mM) was carried out when the     OD660 reached 0.6, and then shake culture was carried out at 20° C.     for 24 hours. After collecting the cells, the wet cells were     resuspended in 20 mM P. P. B (pH 7.0), and then sonicated, followed     by performing centrifugation (10,000 g, 4° C., 20 min) to obtain a     water-soluble fraction and an insoluble fraction. -   2. The insoluble fraction was suspended in 1 mL of washing buffer 1     (100 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1% Triton X; 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH8.0)), and     then incubated at 1500 rpm at 4° C. for 1 hour, followed by     performing centrifugation (10,000 g, 4° C., 10 min). -   3. The same operation was then carried out for the insoluble     fraction obtained, using washing buffer 2 (100 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA;     20 mM Tris-HCl (pH8.0)) and washing buffer 3 (2 M urea; 20 mM     Tris-HCl (pH 8.0)). -   4. The sample was suspended in 0.75 mL of solubilization buffer (8 M     urea, 30 mM dithiothreitol; 20 mM Tris-HCl), and then incubated at     1500 rpm at 4° C. for 4 hours, followed by performing centrifugation     (10,000 g, 4° C., 10 min). The solubilized inclusion body fraction     obtained was diluted with refolding buffer (1 mM reduced     glutathione, 1 mM oxidized glutathione, flavin adenine dinucleotide,     10% glycerol; 20 mM P. P. B (pH 7.5)) to a final concentration of     0.05 mg/mL, and the resulting dilution was left to stand at 10° C.     for 96 hours. -   5. The sample was concentrated (about 100-fold concentration) by     ultrafiltration using Amicon Ultra 30 K (Merk Millipore). The     concentrated sample was subjected to dialysis against 20 mM sodium     acetate (pH 5.0) for 12 hours, and then against 20 mM P. P. B (pH     7.0) for 24 hours, followed by performing centrifugation (20,000 g,     4° C., 5 min) to obtain the supernatant as a purified enzyme.     [Chemical Modification with Electron Acceptor]

For arPES modification, four kinds of reaction solutions with molar ratios, between the purified enzyme (mutant 1489K or wild type WT) and arPES, of 1:500, 1:1000, 1:5000, and 1:10000 were prepared using 50 mM Tricine (pH 8.3) as a buffer, and the reaction solutions were shaken at 1200 rpm at 25° C. for 2 hours. For buffer replacement, each sample was subjected to ultrafiltration (14,000 g, 4° C., 5 min) using Amicon Ultra 30 K, and the concentrated sample was diluted with 20 mM P. P. B. This operation was repeated 10 times. The mutant type is modified with PES through position 489 and natural side-chain amino groups at other positions, and the wild type is modified with PES through natural side-chain amino groups.

[Measurement of Enzymatic Activity]

Evaluation of the enzymatic activity was carried out for the modified enzyme and the unmodified enzyme, in the presence or absence of PMS.

Reduction reaction of MTT with arPES or PMS was measured by monitoring changes in the absorbance at 565 nm over time. The reaction conditions were as follows unless otherwise specified.

The reaction was started by adding a substrate to a reaction solution (200 μL; 20 mM PPB (pH 7.0)+1.0 mM MTT; all concentrations are expressed as final concentrations) containing the enzyme solution, and changes in the absorbance at 565 nm were measured (in the cases where PMS was added, its final concentration was set to 0.6 mM). As a substrate, glucose at a final concentration of 100 mM was used. The amount of the enzyme with which reduction of 1 μmol of MTT was achieved was defined as 1 unit, and the activity value was calculated according to the following equation. The molar absorption coefficient of MTT at pH 7.0 was defined as 20 mM⁻¹cm⁻¹.

Unit/ml=

ABS/min×1/20*¹×40*²

*1: The molar absorption coefficient of MTT at pH 7.0*2: The dilution factor of the enzyme solution in the reaction solution

The results are shown in Table 4.

In the wild-type sample after the modification, no dehydrogenase activity in the MTT system was observed. It was thus found that the wild type did not allow electron transfer by the arPES after the modification. In contrast, regarding the mutant after the PES-modification, all samples with the various concentration ratios showed activity in the MTT system, indicating electron transfer by arPES after the modification. The optimum concentration ratio for the modification was shown to be 1:1000, at which the highest activity was achieved. It was thus suggested that the electron transfer in glucose oxidase was caused by the arPES with which the lysine residue introduced by the substitution at position 489 was modified.

TABLE 4 Activity of PES-modified GOX (I489K or wild type) Dh (U/mg) I489K WT Enzyme:arPES MTT PMS/MTT MTT PMS/MTT 1:500 3.4 44 2.4 × 10⁻¹ 35 1:1000 22 66 not detected 47 1:5000 15 45 2.0 × 10⁻¹ 27 1:10000 12 36 not detected 21 NOT modified not detected 14 2.1 × 10⁻¹ 21 Substrate: glucose 100 mM Dh: dehydrogenase activity

[Preparation of Sensor and Measurement of Glucose Concentration]

-   1. An enzyme ink (0.78 mg/ml GOX, 0.4% KJB stock (conductive carbon     black, Lion Specialty Chemicals), 3% Epocros (oxazoline     group-containing water-soluble polymer, Nippon Shokubai), 0.5%     trehalose) was prepared.

As the enzyme, wild-type GOX (1CF3WT), mutant GOX (1CFI489K), arPES-modified wild-type GOX (arPES-WT), or arPES-modified mutant GOX (arPES-I489K) was used.

-   2. On a carbon-printed electrode, 160 nL of the above mixed ink was     spotted and dried, followed by heat treatment at 100° C. for 2 h. -   3. Using a sensor of a three-electrode system (WE: SPCE/enzyme ink,     CE: carbon-printed, RE: Ag/AgCl), amperometric measurement was     carried out at 0 mV vs. Ag/AgCl at 25° C. for Glu 0, 50, 100, 300,     or 600 mg/dL.

The results are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, with the sensor having an electrode in which the wild-type 1CF3 was modified with PES (arPES-WT), no electric current dependent on the glucose concentration could be detected. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 2, with the sensor having an electrode in which the mutant 1CF3 was modified with PES (arPES-I489K), electric currents dependent on the glucose concentration could be detected. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between glucose concentration and current value for the various modified and unmodified wild-type and mutant GOX that were tested.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention. Each of the aforementioned documents as well as JP2018-098011 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mutant glucose oxidase comprising an amino acid sequence in which a residue corresponding to isoleucine at position 489 or arginine at position 335 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is substituted with an amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in a side chain.
 2. The mutant glucose oxidase according to claim 1, wherein the amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain is a lysine residue.
 3. The mutant glucose oxidase according to claim 1, wherein said mutant glucose oxidase has an amino acid sequence with a sequence identity of not less than 90% to the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to
 8. 4. The mutant glucose oxidase according to claim 1, wherein said mutant glucose oxidase originates from Aspergillus niger.
 5. An electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase obtained or obtainable by introducing an electron acceptor to the mutant glucose oxidase according to claim 1, wherein the electron acceptor has been introduced to the glucose oxidase through the amino acid residue having a reactive functional group in the side chain.
 6. The electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase according to claim 5, wherein the electron acceptor is a phenazinium compound.
 7. The electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase according to claim 6, wherein the phenazinium compound is represented by the following formula:

wherein R₁ represents a hydrocarbyl group, and R₂ represents a linker.
 8. An enzyme electrode comprising an electrode base material and the electron acceptor-modified glucose oxidase according to claim 5 bound to the base material.
 9. A biosensor comprising the enzyme electrode according to claim
 8. 